House! Exciting, Stylish, Practical, Affordable Living

Bradford is now undergoing a renaissance inspired by the 2003 Alsop Master Plan – a Vision for Bradford – and city-centre living is making a come-back, encouraged by proposals for a new shopping centre, attractive apartments, and a high-quality public realm including a canal.

Manningham is one of the key regeneration areas for the Bradford District. It has two major attractions : Lister’s Mill (once EuropeÂ’s largest silk factory) forms a prominent feature in the area and is currently undergoing a major facelift by regeneration company Urban Splash; and the beautiful Lister Park, which has recently achieved national recognition as ‘Park of the Year’.

Manningham initially developed during the 20th Century as an affluent suburb occupied by families of influence with many fine Victorian terraces being constructed but also smaller back to back and terraced housing springing up to accommodate many of the mill workers. Today many of these larger Victorian properties have been converted into flats and bed-sits while others provide ideal accommodation for large families.

The origins of the competition stem from the Manningham Masterplan which highlighted the benefits of a housing demonstrator project as a method of creating alternative housing options for new and existing residents to the area. The development of Lister’s Mill, and other investment in the surrounding area has shown that there is an appetite for a more contemporary way of living.

The competition will set the challenging of designing and developing exciting alternatives for individuals or families who want an alternative to loft style living. Competitors will be invited to submit designs for two properties : a stone built midterrace back to back; and a stone built, end Victorian terrace, which is currently separated into 3 self-contained flats.

Design proposals should place emphasis on innovation, affordability and sustainability. Schemes should provide attractive options to lifestyle living as well as enhancing the feeling of ownership and pride; they should boost the housing market and encourage people to move into the area.

www.ribacompetitions.com